Dysphagia progression and related factors in community-dwelling care-dependent patients through home-visit dental care: A 12-month retrospective cohort study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Reports on the progress and characteristics of patients with dysphagia who require professional care at home or in a nursing home are sparse.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this 12-month retrospective cohort study was to investigate the characteristics of care-dependent patients with dysphagia in the community and the factors related to oral intake scale outcomes over 12 months of dysphagia rehabilitation through home-visit dental care.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 323 participants receiving care at home or in a nursing facility who underwent dysphagia rehabilitation through home-visit dental care were enrolled. The outcome was the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) score at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of rehabilitation. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors associated with FOIS scores before and after dysphagia rehabilitation (α=.05).

RESULTS

Approximately 90% of the participants had maintained or improved FOIS scores after 12 months. A difference in associated factors was observed between FOIS scores at baseline and after rehabilitation. Aspiration pneumonia history (B=-1.040, P<.001) and residential environment (B=-0.489, P=.035) were significantly linked to baseline FOIS scores but were not significant predictors of FOIS scores after 6 months (P>.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings demonstrate that FOIS scores improved in the community with 12-month dysphagia rehabilitation, although the rehabilitation was affected by the overall condition. This underscores the importance of accessible and tailored community-based services for those dependent on care services.